Henry howson



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY HOWISON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ISAAC P. VENDELL AND JACOB L. IVENDELL, OF SAME PLACE.

.AXLE-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,998, dated November 2, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itl known that I, HENRY HowsoN, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axle-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in a combination of a box, bearings and keys, theinterior of the box being arched and terminating on each side at recesses formed in the sides of the box, the keys being adapted to fit into recesses and againstthe edges of the bearings, and the several parts being arranged, ,in respect to each other, substantially in the manner fully set forth hereafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a box of light and simple form, and one from which the bearings can be readily removed by raising the box to the slightest extent, and into which the axle as well as the bearings may be introduced with fa- Cility.

My invention has the further advantage of allowing' the center of the axle to be nearer to the top of the box, than in ordi nary axle boxes.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, Figure l, is a longitudinal section of an axlebox with my improvements, which are adapted to the improvements in axles and boxes, for which a patent was granted to Isaac I?. lVendell on the second day of March 1858. Fig. 2, a front view of Fig. l, with the cover plate removed. Fig. 3, a sectional plan on the line l, 2, (Fig. l). Fig. 4, a transverse section on the line 3, 4, (Fig. l) with both keys removed. Fig. 5, a section on the line 5, 6, (Fig. 4). Fig. 6, a section on the line 7, 8, (Fig. l). Fig. 7, a longitudinal section of an axle box with my improvements, adapted to an axle of the ordinary construction. Fig. 8, a transverse section on the line 9, l0, (Fig. 7) with one of the keys removed. Fig. 9, a section on the line 1l, l2, (Fig. 7). Fig. 10, a longitudinal view of one of the keys. Fig. l1, a diagram illustrating a modified form of box and bearing with my improvement-s.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is the body of the box, having on each side the usual guides a., a, adapted to the hanger of the car, the lower portion o of the box forming the receptacle `for the oil or other lubricating matter.

B and B are two separate bearings, adapted to and fitting against t-he arched interior of the box, their upper ends fitting against the separating lug c, projecting from the center o-f the arched interior, and being retained in their proper positions by the keys C and O, the latter bearing at the top against the ledges (Z, d, formed at the termination of the arched interior of the box, at t-he bottom against the ledges e, e, which form the upper termination of the oil cup, and also against the sides g, g of the recesses formed in the box for the reception of the said keys. The bearings B and B are retained in their proper, longitudinal posit-ion, in front by the lips f, f, projecting from the arched interior, and at the back by bearing against the inside end of the box. The bearings may be constructed of any of the materials usually used for the purpose. When adapted to IVendells improvement, however, they must have recesses z' for the central collar j, as illustrated in Fig. 5. But when adapted to ordinary axles, as shown in Fig. 9, the bearings may be free from such recesses and uniform throughout.

The keys may be of any form desired, provided they have the bearing points above described, the form illustrated being adopted for the sake of lightness.

The keys are retained in their places at the back, by bearing against 'the inside end of the box, and in front by the cover plate D.

It should be understood, that the space occupied by each key must be sufficient in height and width to allow (when the key is removed) one of the bearings to be drawn laterally, in the lirst instance, clear of the central collar y', or of the external collar j, (Fig. 7) and be subsequent-ly drawn out longitudinally clear of the box.

The packing arrangement is constructed as follows: A recess is formed at the back of the box by the two ribs It' and it, the lower portion of this recess being semicircular, and the upper portion parallel and open at the top for the admission of the follower F, as seen in Fig. 6, the lower end of this follower being of a semicircular form or thereabout. Two lugs m, m, project from the top of the box, one on each side, and into these lugs screw the stud bolts n, n, which pass freely through the lugs p, 29, on the follower, so that the latter may be depressed at pleasure. In the bottom of the curved portion of the recess, I deposit three curved wedges g, g and 11, the latter tapering from the middle toward each end, one end lapping over the end of one of the wedges g, and the other lapping over the end of the opposite wedge. Suiiicient space is left between the seinicircular end of the follower F and the axle E, as well as between the wedges and the axle, to admit the packing t.

Supposing that the bearings B and B and the keys C and C to be in their proper position, as seen in Fig. 2, and that it is necessary to remove the bearings from the box` The cover -D having been previously unscrewed, the box is raised to a very slight extent, suflicient only to remove the pressure from the bearings B and B. The keys C and C are now drawn out, when the opposite bearings at once drop down, free from the retaining lips The bearings are then drawn laterally clear of the collar on the axle, so as to assume the position shown in Fig. t. They may then be readily pulled out clear of the box. It will be easily seen, that A they may be as readily replaced.

The advantages gained by the above described mode of removing and replacing the bearings, may be briefly enumerated as follows: First, the box requires but the slightest lift, prior to effecting this desired removal. Second, the center of the axle is nearer to the top of the box than in ordinary boxes. Third, the general arrangementis much more simple than in other boxes. Fourth, the axle and bearings are removed and replaced with the greatest facility.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the box with the bearings B and B and retaining keys C and C', when the interior of the box is arched on the top, when the said arch terminates on each side at the recesses g, g formed in the sides of the box, when the keys are adapted to tit into the recesses and against the edges of the bearings, and when the several parts are arranged, in respect to each other, substantially in the manner and for t-he purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY HOISON.

IVitnesses:

IVILLIAM I-I. BROWN, HENRY ODIORNE. 

